Go Karts

Cody, Wade and Dave bought two little go karts. I guess the thought is that while we live on some property we might as well enjoy it so the kids are often zooming around in the dirt trying to do the best donut!!

Wade having some fun while the others patiently wait their turn!

Lost relatives

Over the years we haven't been told much about dad's side of the family. His parents had nothing to do with him (they have both passed away without any of our knowledge) and he had lost contact with his sister Jackie quite a number of years ago. Anyway a little while ago a long lost relative passed away intestate, (I take it he was quite rich...) and so private investigators were brought in to find out who to divvy up the money to. In this process dad and his sister and cousin Pru have come into contact again. While dad and mum were travelling Australia they caught up with eachother and now this year has been the year of meeting long lost family.
First cousin Pru came over - the kids found is rather funny to have a 70+ year old cousin...

...sorry photos to come later, I can't find my computer connection for this one....

A few weeks later Auntie Jackie came to visit so we had a little family gathering in Pinjarra. (sorry the photos aren't the best...I'm still working on my photography skills)

sitting and chatting

Travis chasing the ducks

The men working hard at the BBQ

A game of footie was played with much skill!!

As we recover we're wondering what's coming next as the family tree was quite interesting.

Welcome to a New Year!!

Hello everyone!! Time has just flown by, with so much to say, and it's already middle of March. This epic will begin a couple weeks prior to Christmas (that's 2010). We put our house on the market with the intention of selling and building a couple of spec homes with Helen and Mick, before building one for ourselves. Well the house did sell, against all market odds, the deal being finalised on Dec. 24th, with settlement on January 25th. So the lead up to the Christmas holidays were spent packing and looking for a house to rent. Then on Wednesday 23rd December we took off on a vacation to a little place 130km east of Albany called Boat Harbour. It was a bit of a struggle getting the Suburban with caravan ino the camp spot (had to cut a low branch with a chainsaw!) but get in we did. What a magic spot to spend 2 weeks! The pictures attached give you a glimpse of the good time we had, so I won't bore you with the details here.


Cody on kayak.


Flying the 'double' kites.




A little help required!

Happy Birthday Brett! 02-02-2011.

Happy new year Travis...maybe some year he'll be able to stay awake!

Baseball on the beach

Vanderven blood - Brett devoured 5 books in 10 days!

Are we having fun?

Life's a Beach!

Brett surfing the 'main break'.

Wade paddling out to find some waves

Rough life...someone has to do it.

Exploring the many rock pools

Beach camping Lewis style

Our backyard for 2 weeks

After our relaxing break it was all go, go, go as we moved house. We found an old farm house to rent (it's actually earmarked for demolition!) just a minute away from where we were. It's small and old but we all fit in and have plenty of room outside. Sitting on our back patio we can overlook our crops of carrots (well, sometimes it feels like we're farmers! There's a nice chicken coop here as well so we've bought some chickens and Brett and Travis are enjoying selling cartons of eggs to family and friends.

For the rest, this term is going by very quickly, the kids are all well and enjoying school (although Wade's struggling at the moment). We're into the regular routines of work, school, club, catechism, Bible study, music lessons, band practice etc and each day passes quickly.

Brett just had a "birthday party" when he invited 4 friends, Tyrone, Quentin, Kyle and Beau to go camping at Dwellingup. Dave and Wade took the boys and Travis overnight and they had a great time playing in the river, having mud wars, jumping off a rope swing, staying up late, telling stories and just having a grand old time.